When it opened in 2008, Grace stood out among Little Italy’s unremarkable collection of tired trattorias. Since then, the neighbourhood has experienced a restaurant renaissance. In 2011, Acadia moved in, followed shortly by La Carnita and Bar Isabel, turning the culinary dead zone into a dining destination on par with the busy Ossington strip. Now the pretty bistro at College and Palmerston is closing.

“The industry’s changed a lot since we opened,” says co-owner and sommelier Leslie Gibson. “We’ve had an amazing ride, but it felt like the right time to make a change.” During its six-year run, Grace helped propel the careers of a few prominent Toronto chefs, including former Acadia chef Dustin Gallagher and, most recently, executive chef Colin Moise. The restaurant’s final dinner service was last Saturday.

The closure is certainly a loss, but locals needn’t despair entirely. Rumour has it that a much-anticipated new restaurant will be moving into the space. Stay tuned for details.